Launching the Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge
Two weeks ago, Minister Alex Chalk welcomed a panel of experts from across the tech community and criminal justice space to take part in a roundtable event, discussing opportunities for tech innovation to help reduce crime.
The panel shared insights about the many digital developments already being rolled out in prisons and probation services and outlined some of the exciting opportunities for innovation. The discussion made clear the huge appetite for tech transformation and scope for testing new solutions in this space.
So we are delighted that this week we were able to launch the Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge. This is the digital and technological strand of the Prison Leavers Project - a £20m innovation programme that aims to develop new solutions to reduce reoffending.
What is the PLIC?
The PLIC looks to the UK’s brilliant tech start-ups and innovators for technology-based solutions to problems that we know contribute to patterns of crime and reoffending.
As discussed at the roundtable, start-ups and tech companies are well placed to come up with innovative tech solutions, injecting agility and dynamism into complex policy challenges.
Through the PLIC small businesses and start-ups can apply for funding of up to £350,000 to develop and test their solutions to key challenges faced by people leaving prison.
What are the challenges?
Over the past few months, we’ve engaged stakeholders across Government, including those with experience and expertise in the criminal justice system, to understand the thorny issues in relation to reoffending. Using these insights, we’ve developed six ‘challenge statements’ - specific problems within the criminal justice space that we think start-ups and tech companies have the potential to solve.
Based around four key themes (health, community and relationships, work and skills, and the day of release from prison) we believe these challenge statements have the potential to generate novel, scalable solutions which will deliver meaningful impact. You can find out more about the challenge statements on the PLIC webpage.
Applications for the Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge are open until the 13th June. You can find guidance and application documents also on the webpage.
Georgie Morgan
Georgie Morgan
Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, then becoming Head of Programme in January 2022.
Georgie leads techUK's engagement and activity across our blue light and criminal justice services, engaging with industry and stakeholders to unlock innovation, problem solve, future gaze and highlight the vital role technology plays in the delivery of critical public safety and justice services. The JES programme represents suppliers by creating a voice for those who are selling or looking to break into and navigate the blue light and criminal justice markets.
Prior to joining techUK, Georgie spent 4 and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. She worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and London borough councils to prevent and reduce the impact of crime on the business community. Her work ranged from the impact of low-level street crime and anti-social behaviour on the borough, to critical incidents and violent crime.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-henley/
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to join techUK, Cinzia held positions within the third and public sectors, managing international and multi-disciplinary projects and funding initiatives. Cinzia has a double MA degree in European Studies from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Udine (Italy), with a focus on politics and international relations.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2029
- Twitter:
- @GeorginaMarath
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-maratheftis-0a002a102/
